WEBVTT >> I CAN SEE WHERE IT COULD GETOUT OF HAND, IF PEOPLE DO IT ALLTHE TIME.IT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. HEATH: CALI KNEPP AND FRIENDSENJOY THE MANDEVILLE LAKEFRONT,LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, THROW DOWNA BLANKET AND ENJOY THEBEAUTIFUL DAYLIGHT HOURS.>> AS OF LATE, THERE WERE A FEWPEOPLE THAT WERE SLEEPINGOVERNIGHT IN SLEEPING BAGS, SOTHE RESIDENTS CALLED THE POLICE.AND WE DISCOVERED THERE WAS NOORDINANCE THAT PREVENTED THAT. HEATH: THERE WAS ALREADY ANORDINANCE THAT BANNED CAMPINGNEAR THE HARBOR.A UNANIMOUS COUNCIL VOTE NOWEXTENDS THAT THE LENGTH OF LAKESHORE DRIVE.>> I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY CAMPOUT HERE AT NIGHT, BUT THATDOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT HAPPENING,I GUESS.IF PEOPLE COME LATE AT NIGHT ANDDO IT. HEATH: AND THAT'S WHAT THEORDINANCE TARGETS.OTHER AREAS, JUST A STONE'STHROW AWAY, ARE DESIGNED FOR THEOVERNIGHTER.BUT ON THE MANDEVILLE LAKEFRONT, NO WATER HOOK UPS, NORESTROOMS.>> FONTAINEBLEAU STATE PARKOFFERS SOME BEAUTIFULCAMPGROUNDS.AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT WEJUST DON'T HAVE THE FACILITIESTO ACCOMMODATE CAMPINGOVERNIGHT. HEATH: RESTRICTIONS ALREADYEXIST ON THE MANDEVILLE LAKEFRONT REGARDING PARKING, FOODAND DRINK.>> WE'RE NOT TRYING TO RUNANYBODY OFF THE LAKE FRONTTHAT'S OUT THERE ENJOYING THELAKEFRONT.OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE, SETTING UP RESIDENCY ON THELAKEFRONT AND I THINK THAT'S, WHAT THIS IS KIND OF GEAREDTOWARD. >> I THINK IT WOULD JUST BE ASAFETY THING, JUST TO MAKE SURETHEY KNOW WHO'S OUT HERE ANDWHAT'S GOING ON AND THATEVERYBODY IS SAFE. HEATH: FOR PEOPLE WHO ENJOY THELAKEFRONT ON A DAILY BASIS,PRETTY MUCH NOTHING CHANGES.>> DAY TO DAY LAKE FRONT OPEN TOTHE PUBLIC.LOVE TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HERE.YOU CAN STILL BRING A POP UPTENT.YOU CAN STILL COME OUT IN YOURHAMMOCK.IT'S JUST DIRECTED TO THEOVERNIGHT CAMPING. HEATH: SO PLAN TO ENJOY THE DAY

After residents began complaining about people sleeping overnight on the Mandeville lakefront, the City Council took action.
Overnight camping along the lakefront is now against city ordinance. Most people we spoke to said they are OK with that.
"I can see where it could get out of hand if people do it all the time. It could be a safety issue," Cali Knepp said as she and friends enjoyed Wednesday afternoon on the Mandeville lakefront.
Like so many other visitors, they simply spread a blanket on the ground and took advantage of the beautiful weather. But recently, some have been staying the night.
"As of late, there were a few people that were sleeping overnight in sleeping bags," Mandeville Councilmember-at-Large Laure Sica said. "The residents called the police and we discovered there was no ordinance that prevented that."
There is now, even though there was already an ordinance that banned overnight camping around the Mandeville harbor. A unanimous vote of the city council on April 27 extended the prohibition for the length of Lakeshore Drive.
"I've never seen anybody camp out here at night, but that doesn't mean it's not happening, I guess, if people come late at night and do it," said Abby Sasso, as she and her 1-year-old daughter sat on the lakefront.
There are a number of designated campgrounds in the immediate area that are geared for overnight stays. At the Mandeville lakefront, however, there are no water hookups and no restrooms.
"Fontainebleau State Park offers some beautiful campgrounds," Mandeville Mayor Don Villere said. "The other thing is that we just don't have the facilities to accommodate camping overnight."
Restrictions on parking, food and drink already exist on the lakefront.
"We're not trying to run anybody off the lake front that's out there enjoying the lake front," Assistant Police Chief Ron Ruple said. "Obviously we don't want people setting up residency on the lake front, and I think that's what this is kind of geared toward."
"I think it would just be a safety thing, just to make sure they know who's out here and what's going on and that everybody is safe," lakefront visitor Rebekah Day said.
For the people who visit the lakefront on a daily basis, nothing changes.
"Day to day lake front open to the public. Love to have the public here. You can still bring a pop up tent. You can still come out in your hammock. It's just directed to the overnight camping," Sica said.
So plan to enjoy the day along the Mandeville lakefront. Just no more sleepovers.
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MANDEVILLE, La. —

After residents began complaining about people sleeping overnight on the Mandeville lakefront, the City Council took action.

Overnight camping along the lakefront is now against city ordinance. Most people we spoke to said they are OK with that.

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"I can see where it could get out of hand if people do it all the time. It could be a safety issue," Cali Knepp said as she and friends enjoyed Wednesday afternoon on the Mandeville lakefront.

Like so many other visitors, they simply spread a blanket on the ground and took advantage of the beautiful weather. But recently, some have been staying the night.

"As of late, there were a few people that were sleeping overnight in sleeping bags," Mandeville Councilmember-at-Large Laure Sica said. "The residents called the police and we discovered there was no ordinance that prevented that."

There is now, even though there was already an ordinance that banned overnight camping around the Mandeville harbor. A unanimous vote of the city council on April 27 extended the prohibition for the length of Lakeshore Drive.

"I've never seen anybody camp out here at night, but that doesn't mean it's not happening, I guess, if people come late at night and do it," said Abby Sasso, as she and her 1-year-old daughter sat on the lakefront.

There are a number of designated campgrounds in the immediate area that are geared for overnight stays. At the Mandeville lakefront, however, there are no water hookups and no restrooms.

"Fontainebleau State Park offers some beautiful campgrounds," Mandeville Mayor Don Villere said. "The other thing is that we just don't have the facilities to accommodate camping overnight."

Restrictions on parking, food and drink already exist on the lakefront.

"We're not trying to run anybody off the lake front that's out there enjoying the lake front," Assistant Police Chief Ron Ruple said. "Obviously we don't want people setting up residency on the lake front, and I think that's what this is kind of geared toward."

"I think it would just be a safety thing, just to make sure they know who's out here and what's going on and that everybody is safe," lakefront visitor Rebekah Day said.

For the people who visit the lakefront on a daily basis, nothing changes.

"Day to day lake front open to the public. Love to have the public here. You can still bring a pop up tent. You can still come out in your hammock. It's just directed to the overnight camping," Sica said.

So plan to enjoy the day along the Mandeville lakefront. Just no more sleepovers.